Bird International Organisations
Birds Organisations in 61
countries, not all of them are bird focused. These can be
a good starting point when you are trying to contact
people, organisations and universities outside your own
country.

The Birding Home- http://www.thebirdinghome.org/ Logs of birders' observations from around the world.

Tree of Life- http://www.amazilia.net/treeoflife.htm Allen Chartier's trip reports and photographs of birds and other life forms from around the world.

Where Do You Want to Go Birding Today?- http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/birding.htm Information about birds and birding around the world. Endemic and specialty bird information for many countries; photographs and links to checklists.

WorldTwitch- http://worldtwitch.virtualave.net/ Guide to finding rare birds around the world.

BirdLife Seabird Conservation Programme- http://www.savethealbatross.org.za/ Examining the impact that longline fisheries have on seabird populations, with the aim of encouraging international communication to find solutions to common problems.

Black Redstart- http://www.blackredstarts.org.uk Information on the habitat, distribution, threats and conservation efforts in the UK.

Conservation Through Birding- http://conservationthroughbirding.org Nature conservation through the pastime of birding. Provides a powerpoint presentation and information on bird conservation and how birders can get involved.

EU Birds Directive- http://www.ecnc.nl/doc/europe/legislat/birdsdir.html A directive relating to the conservation of all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild state in the European territory of the Member States to which the Treaty applies. It covers the protection, management and control of these species and lays down rules for their exploitation.

Extinction Risk Analysis for Birds- http://www.ramas.com/birds.htm Projects related to the ecology and conservation of bird species, involving data analysis on the dynamics of endangered and threatened species, developing models for extinction risk assessment, and performing population viability analysis with habitat-based metapopulation models linked to

Great Lakes Bird Conservation- http://www.uwgb.edu/birds/greatlakes/ Dedicated to the conservation and management of forest birds in the Laurentian Mixed Forest region of the Western Great Lakes Basin. Includes a project description with management goals and information about bird ecology and conservation.

Hawk and Owl Trust- http://www.hawkandowl.org/ Gives information on conservation projects, research and education, birds of prey , and membership.

Indonesian Parrot Project- http://www.indonesian-parrot-project.org/ Information on trapping/trafficking in cockatoos and parrots, effects of illegal logging on habitat, and IPP's attempts to mitigate these problems through encouragement of sustainable economic development.

International Aviculturists Society- http://www.funnyfarmexotics.com/ Dedicated to improving the welfare of parrots and companion birds both in captivity and in the wild. The site contains papers on conservation and research efforts on behalf of parrots as well a general information on parrot care, behavior and disease prevention.

RSPB Store- http://www.rspbshop.co.uk Gift catalogue of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Seabird Conservation- http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/seabirds/ The Birdlife International Seabird Conservation Programme site includes news, species descriptions, newsletter, events, conservation, research, and links to other seabird sites.

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary- http://www.seabirdsanctuary.org/ Treats an average of 20-24 wild birds that have been injured and releases them back into the wild. Also has a captive breeding program.

The Action Plan for Australian Birds- http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/action/birds2000/index.html Provides a national overview of the conservation status of all birds occurring in Australian territory.

The Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation- http://www.burrowingowl.com/foundation.htm Helps conserve birds of prey with the rehabilitating and releasing injured birds of prey back to the wild, captive breeding and release of endangered species, studying and monitoring wild birds of prey populations and encouraging increased public environmental awareness.

The Philippine Eagle Foundation- http://www.philippineagle.org/ Information on field research, captive breeding and conservation of Philippine birds of prey andowls.

Wirral & Ellesmere Port Barn Owl Trust- http://www.wirralbarnowltrust.org Registered charity aiming to conserve wild Barn Owl populations. Gives information about the Barn Owl, the activities of the trust and how to become a member.

Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative- http://www.uwgb.edu/birds/wbci/ Coordinates bird-based projects for effective management of birds in Wisconsin. Includes the background of the organisation, their aims and objectives and a news
letter

BirdChat- http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Searchable archives and subscription management for the e-mail discussion group for wild birds, birders, and birding.

Venezuela - home to 40 percent of South America's bird species;
home to 43 protected National Parks

Day
One:
Upon arrival we will be transferred to Caracas, and our
hotel for the evening at Hotel Caracas

Day
Two to Four:
This morning we will depart early to drive to Maracay. We
will explore one of Venezuela’s natural gems, Henri
Pittier National Park. Its impressive list of birds includes
over 500 species, including 30 species of hummingbirds! This
220,000-acre wonderland goes from cloud forest at 4,000
feet, through several diverse habitats, reaching down no the
Caribbean Sea and its mangrove forest. Today we will bird
from the cloudforest to the lowland tropical deciduous
forest, along the famous Choroni Road. Our day will begin
among the giant liana-covered trees of the cloud forest
searching out such species as Band-Tailed Guan, Band-tailed
Pigeon, Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager, Speckled Hummingbird,
Yellow-Legged and Glossy-Black Thrush,a nd perhaps with luck
the secreative Black Hawk-Eagle. Later we will work our way
down hill towards the small town of Cumboto, where we will
picnic at one of the Cocoa plantations looking for soaring
Ornate Hawk-Eagle,a nd searching for lineated Woodpecker,
Lance-Tailed Mankins, Black-Crested Antshrike, and
Orange-Crowned Oriole, Hopefully, we will have time for a
swim in the blue Caribbean as we watch soaring frigatebirds
and pelicans. Night

Day
Five: We
will begin our day at the well-known Rancho Grande
Biological Station Henri Pittier National Park searching out
such species as White-Tipped Quetzal, Bronzy Inca,
Long-Tailed Sylph, Green Jay, golden-Breasted Fruitcater,
and Swallow Tanager, after breakfast at Rancho Grande
Research Station, we will explore the trails looking for
secretive forest birds such as Plumbeous Antshrike,
Smoky-Brown Woodpecker, Black-Faced Anthrush,a nd perhaps
lined quail-dove. We will hope for a feeding flock of
tanagers, (made up of such specialties as Beryl-Spangled,
Rufous-Cheeked, Golden, and Blue-Capped Tanagers), and
endemics such as Handsome fruteater, Blood-Eared Parakeet,
Groove-Billed Toucanet,a nd Guttulated Foliage-Gleaner. In
addition, Rancho Grande is a great place to get a good look
at Red-Howler Monkey and sloths. We will depart in the late
afternoon for Caracas, where we will have dinner and spend
the night at the Caracas Hilton Hotel.

Day
Six:
Today we have a mid-morning departure flight to Merida,
Venezuela’s gateway to the Andes. Merida is set on a
plateau surrounded by the country’s highest peaks, Pico
Bolivar and Pico Espejo, both over 16,000 feet. It is one of
the few areas in Venezuela that still maintains a colonial
flavor in its culture and architecture. We will visit the
fascinating there-story marketplace, which sells everything
from Andrea handicrafts to local fruits, vegetables and
spices. We will then check into our hotel, located outside
of the city of Merida, in time for lunch. This charming
mountain Hotel’s grounds offer us the opportunity for
excellent bird-watching, and we are likely to see Slaty
Brush-Finch, Black-Capped Tanager,a nd Yellow-Bellied
Siskin. Overnight Hotel Belensate.

Day
Seven:
We will start out early this morning for the cloud forest at
La Mucuy, in Sierra Nevada National Park. In this lush,
misty forest we will look for Quetzals, Guans, Fruiteaters,
Rose-Headed Parakeet, Red-Ruffed Fruitcrow and Merida
Sunangel. After lunch we will take a scenic drive through
Andrean Villages, climbing into the highlands and our hotel
for the evening. Our hotel, located at 8,200 feet, is a
replica of a colonial convent, with spectacular views of the
mountains and Paramo. Night Hotel La Trucha Azul.

Day
Eight:
This morning we will start out early to explore the Paramo.
This treeless environment found over 8,000 feet has a unique
flora; the dominant plant being a composite, Espeletia,
Unique bird species occur here, such as Black-Chested
Buzzars Eagle, Paramo Wren, and if we’re lucky the Bearded
Helmeterest. We will stop at Lago Mucubaji, a glacial lake
in tha Paramo, to look for some of these unique species, and
make several stops at lower elevations to look for such
specialties as Lacrimose Mountain Tanager, Coal-Black
Flower-Piercer, Orange-Throated Sunangel, and Great Thrush,
Night Hotel La Trucha Azul.

Day
Nine:
Today we will begin our day by exploring the National
Park’s cloudforest. In this exquisite forest, its trees in
bromeliada, ferns and orchids, we will watch for feeding
fruiteaters and tanagers, Golden-Headed Quetzal, and
Golden-Bellied Starfrontlet. We will make a special attempt
to visit a lek of the Andrean Cock-of-the-Rock; this
spectacular bright orange bird is known for the elaborate
performance of the males, as they display and dance to
attract a female. We will then descend into the foothills
looking for Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Golden and Blue-necked
Tanager, Violaceous Jay, and Orange-Headed Oriole. Along the
streams we will look for Torrent Duck and White-Capped
Dipper, there is the possibility of Spangled Coquette,
Booted Racket-Tail and Striped Manakin. We will continue
downward, past the lovely Andrean Village of Altamira, into
the drier habitats looking for Qhite-Browed antbird,
Cinnamon Becard, Golden-Crowned Warbler and Thick-Billed
Euphonia. We will spend the night at the Hotel Bristol in
Barinas.

Day
Ten to Twelve:
This morning we will depart early to drive into the vast
interior region of Venezuela; The Llanos. Here at Hato El
Cedral, a 106,000 acre private wildlife santuary, you will
be introduced to one o this continent’s greatest wildlife
spectacles. Three days of excursions on this working cattle
ranch will likely bring you sights of Jabiru, Maguari, and
Wood Stork; seven species of Ibis; White-Necked, Whistling,
Capped and Rufescent-Tiger Heron; Homed Screamer,
White-Faced and Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks, Orinoco
Goose; plus easy sightings of such after birds as Hoatzin,
Sunbittern, and Aplomado Falcon; and a long list of 200
other possibilities including Yellow-Knobbed Curassow,
Chestnut-Fronted and Scarlet Macaw, plus the near endemic
Pale-Headed Jacamar and White-Bearded Flycatcher. In
addition we will see herds of Capybara, hundred of Caiman,
giant Anaconda, along with mammals such as Red-Howler
Monkey, Crab-Eating Raccoon, and Pink Dolphin. Our night
time excursion will add immensely to the richness of our
visit as we search for night birds, giant Anteater,
Crab-Eating Fox, Ocelot and hopefully the Puma.

Our
accommodations at Hato El Cedral are in spacious,
air-conditioned, attractively furnished bungalows, each with
private bath. The dining room serves excellent family-style
meals, and the swimming pool is available throughout our
visit. At the end of a long day you may be entertained by
the famous Venezuelan cowboys, the “Llaneros”, who with
their harps, “cuatros”, and maracas present their
beautiful national music for visitors. Nights at Hato El
Cedral..

Day
Thirteen:
We will have an early morning departure for San Fernando de
Apure or Barinas, and our flight back to Caracas. Departure
for the airport and our flight home.